The shooting happened around 6 p.m. at a home on the 400 block of Boone Way, in West Modesto, Lt. Rick Armendariz said.

The wife called 911 to report the shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a 64-year-old man inside the home with a life-threatening gunshot wound; he was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

The woman told police she shot her husband after he assaulted her, Armendariz said.

Five children, ages 4 to 14, were home at the time of the shooting. The children were placed in the custody of Stanislaus County Child Protective Services.

Armendariz said detectives have processed the crime scene and will now review evidence and witness statements; they want to learn the order of events to determine if the shooting was self-defense or not.

No arrests have been made in connection to the shooting. Armendariz said the case is an active and open investigation.

The identity of the shooting victim will be released after an autopsy by the Stanislaus County Coroner's Office, which is scheduled for Monday.